Problems
Air Pollution In Nigeria
Four of the world's twenty worst cities in terms of air pollution, according to data published by the World Health Organization (WHO), are in Nigeria. The first place goes to Onitsha, a city that few people outside the African country know about. It is the most polluted locality in the world for particulate matter concentration in the air (PM10). This port city in southern Nigeria contains 30 times more PM10 than the WHO recommended standards. Three other Nigerian cities are mentioned in the WHO report's "top 20 most polluted cities in the world." They are Kaduna, a transportation hub in the north of the country, which ranked fifth, as well as Aba, which ranked sixth, and Umuahia, a major shopping center in southern Nigeria, which ranked 16th on the list.
Consequences of polluted air
Cities with reduced air quality increase the risk of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and exacerbation of chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma. Air pollution, primarily due to high concentrations of small and fine particulate matter, is the greatest environmental health risk, causing more than 3 million premature deaths worldwide each year. Air pollution is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. The good news, however, is that more and more cities are stepping up efforts to control air quality. The most vulnerable categories susceptible to illnesses "caused by dirty urban air are children, the elderly, and the poor.
The dirtiest city on the planet
Nigerian Onitsha is recognized as the dirtiest city on the planet. According to World Health Organization standards, the presence of fine particles in the air should not exceed 20 micrograms per cubic meter. A higher concentration is already harmful to human health. In Nigeria's Onitsha, it is 594 micrograms, a concentration that is already fatal. But the city authorities pretend that everything is fine. Large and small particles of dust and ash are almost everywhere, and there is no hiding from them. On top of that, the city's sanitary regulations are practically non-existent, and there are piles of garbage everywhere.
The main causes of air pollution
The main cause of the disaster in Onitsha is rapid industrialization, and the city is home to factories in almost every industrial field imaginable. Weak government control over quality standards and occupational health and safety exacerbates the situation. Simple households that cook over open fires also contribute to Onitsha's air pollution, a common problem in modern Africa. Respirators and masks are very rare in the city, even those residents who are engaged in the smelting of non-ferrous metal from waste are not wearing them. In general, the locals do not care much about the city's pollution. Perhaps they are simply careless or accustomed to this state of affairs, although, for the most part, they simply have no other choice. However, not accepting or not knowing about the harm of industrial emissions does not cancel the fact that residents already suffer from poor air quality. This is especially evident in infant mortality. Deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common among city residents of all ages. There are no exact statistics on these illnesses now because the city is still not doing very well with the healthcare system.
Gallery
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Timelines
2023
May
The Federal Government has opened new programs to curb air pollution, mostly caused by the country's transportation sector. These programs are National Emissions Control Program (NECP), Generator Emissions Control Program (NGECP), and Vehicle Emissions Control Program (NVECP). Speaking at the official launch of the two programs in Abuja, Environment Minister Mohammed Abdullahi said that while inter-community vehicles play a key role in the country's socio-economic development, they continue to be one of the biggest sources of air pollution. He deplored the wide range and indiscriminate use of generators for both domestic and industrial power supply, and the number of harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and partially uncombined Emitted hydrocarbons has contributed significantly to the deterioration of air quality, which negatively affects the environment and human health. The Minister noted that recognizing the need to protect the environment and human life from the dangers of toxic air emissions, the Federal Government of Nigeria has promulgated environmental regulations covering all sectors of the economy, which the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) implements. The National Vehicle Emissions Control Program (NVECP) and the National Generator Emissions Control Program (NGECP) were developed to control emissions from mobile and stationary sources. He said the NGCP and NVECP are strategies to reduce pollutant emissions from generators (stationary sources) as well as vehicles (mobile sources), adding that the programs will be implemented through public-private partnerships (PPPs) and will include periodic (annual) testing of generators and vehicles for toxic and greenhouse gas emissions. He said that the implementation of NGECP will start with units with a capacity of 10 kVA and above, and for NVECP, the lowest limit will be the Euro-3 emission standard agreed upon at the regional level of ECOWAS. NESREA CEO Professor Aliyu Jauro said that with the introduction of the two programs, the agency will be able to realize its vision of a cleaner and healthier environment.
2022
June 14
According to a new report, air pollution shortens life expectancy in Nigeria by 1.8 years compared to if the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 5 µg/m3 were followed. According to the Air Quality of Life Index (AQLI), air pollution is more damaging than HIV/AIDS and almost on par with malaria and unsafe water and sanitation. AQLI found that this impact on life expectancy is comparable to the impact of smoking, more than three times that of drinking alcohol and unsafe water, six times that of HIV/AIDS, and 89 times that of conflict and terrorism. The report states: “All 208.3 million Nigerians live in areas where the average annual level of particulate pollution exceeds WHO guidelines. However, when measured by life expectancy, particulate pollution is one of the main threats to human health in Nigeria, reducing life expectancy by an average of 1.8 years. AQLI noted that particulate pollution has increased over time, adding that the average annual concentration of PM2.5 has increased by almost 15 percent since 2000, reducing average life expectancy by about 4 months.
2021
August 29
Air pollution has killed about 22,500 children in Lagos, Nigeria, Anadolu Agency reported.
2019
According to a study in Nigeria, 78% of air pollution-related deaths were among children under the age of five.
2017
February 13
The World Health Organization recorded Onitsha's annual average concentration at 594 micrograms per cubic meter, well above the WHO's annual PM10 limit of 20 µg/m3. PM10 refers to coarse dust particles between 10 and 2.5 micrometers in diameter, while PM2.5s are even smaller and more dangerous to inhale, settling deep in a person's lungs. The sources of both are dust storms, vehicle emissions, all types of combustion, and industrial activities such as cement production, construction, mining, and metallurgy. Onitsha scores highly on most of the above, as do other fast-growing Nigerian cities such as Kaduna, Aba, and Umuahia, all of which are also among the WHO's 20 worst offenders for PM10.
2015
June 16
Figures for Nigeria, included in the recently published Little Green Data Book 2015, indicate that 94% of the population is exposed to levels of air pollution (measured in PM2.5) that exceed WHO guidelines, with air pollution costing about 1 percent of gross national income. The World Bank has already taken a first step in tackling pollution by supporting a rapid bus system in Lagos that takes cars off the roads and helps make transport more efficient.